Keanu Reeves is afraid of the dark.
Keanu Reeves Is Afraid of the Dark (Yes, Really)
Keanu Reeves has saved the world in The Matrix, defused bombs on speeding buses in Speed, and survived countless shootouts as John Wick—often in dimly lit settings. But there's one thing this action hero can't quite conquer: the dark itself.
In a 1994 interview with Seventeen magazine, Reeves admitted to having nyctophobia, the fear of darkness. When asked about his childhood, he confessed he was "younger and more afraid of the dark" as a kid. More telling? His practical workaround: "I don't go in caves because I'm afraid of the dark."
What Makes This Phobia Ironic
Consider Reeves' filmography. Neo spends much of The Matrix trilogy in underground lairs and shadowy digital worlds. John Wick operates primarily at night, navigating dark clubs, tunnels, and rain-soaked streets. Constantine literally battles demons in darkness. The man has built a career in low-light environments.
Yet in one interview, he described his fear as existing "in a really philosophical way"—suggesting it's less about practical terror and more about existential unease. That's very on-brand for someone who regularly contemplates mortality and meaning in interviews.
He's In Distinguished Company
Nyctophobia isn't just a childhood phase that some people never outgrow. Throughout history, it's affected everyone from Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar to boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The fear of darkness is one of the most common phobias, rooted in our evolutionary past when nighttime actually did harbor serious threats.
- An estimated 11% of adults in the U.S. experience some form of specific phobia
- Fear of the dark often develops in childhood (ages 2-6) but can persist into adulthood
- It's linked to our ancestral need for vigilance against nocturnal predators
- Modern triggers include feeling vulnerable, loss of visual control, or association with danger
The Philosophical Angle
Reeves' characterization of his fear as "philosophical" hints at something deeper than just being spooked. Darkness represents the unknown, the unknowable—concepts that genuinely warrant contemplation. You can't see threats, you can't navigate confidently, and you're forced to rely on senses that feel inadequate.
For someone as introspective as Reeves, who famously said "I'm the one who's going to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to," the dark might represent that ultimate uncertainty. It's not about monsters under the bed; it's about confronting the limits of perception and control.
The takeaway? Even Hollywood's most stoic action heroes have fears. Keanu Reeves just happens to be refreshingly honest about his—and somehow makes being afraid of the dark sound contemplative rather than childish. That's the Keanu difference.